Starter of the Year

Gwinnett's Asencio wins MiLBY; Delaney is fans' choice
Gwinnett's Jairo Asencio ranked second among all Triple-A relievers in saves with 26, and he had a 1.81 ERA and recorded 70 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings. New Orleans' Jose Ceda, who reached the Majors this year, finished tied for third among Triple-A relievers with 24 saves. His 1.36 ERA in 39 2/3 innings helped him pick up three wins as well. Veteran lefty Hideki Okajima was sharp out of the bullpen for Pawtucket during the middle innings -- he had no saves, but he went 8-1 with a 2.29 ERA and struck out 48 in 51 frames. Lehigh Valley's Michael Schwimer put it all together, with nine wins, 10 saves, a 1.85 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 68 innings. He too reached the Majors.

Akron's Burns sweeps reliever MiLBYs
San Antonio's Brad Brach helped the Missions to the Minors' best record this year with 23 saves in 25 opportunities and 64 strikeouts in 44 innings. He won two games and walked only five batters during his stint at Double-A. Akron's Cory Burns, an Eastern League All-Star, led all Double-A pitchers with 35 saves in 37 chances; the right-hander struck out 70 and finished with a 2.11 ERA. Justin Miller earned Texas League All-Star status thanks to a 9-1 record and a 1.81 ERA -- he added 13 saves and 77 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings, a span in which he allowed just two home runs.

Traded Cardenas gets MiLBY; Guilmet takes fans' voteEliecer Cardenas spent most of the season at Lynchburg, where he finished with a dazzling 0.79 ERA in 56 2/3 innings. He also won four games and struck out 75. Cleveland prospect Preston Guilmet will go down in history as Kinston's final closer -- he led all Class A Advanced relievers with 35 saves to go along with a 2.16 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 58 1/3 frames. Stockton's Anthony Huttenlocker also finished up wth 60 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA as a middle reliever in 41 California League games.

Chukars' Carl takes MiLBY; Billbrough the fans' pick
Idaho Falls' Edwin Carl, a Royals prospect, was stunningly dominant in 2011, with 71 strikeouts and just three walks in 33 innings over 21 outings in the Pioneer League. He won three games, saved five and had a 1.36 ERA when he received a promotion to the Midwest League. Well behind Carl in strikeout rankings sit the likes of Vermont's Jeff Urlab, who had a 1.67 ERA, 49 strikeouts and five saves, and right-hander Logan Billbrough, who whiffed 38 and saved five, going undefeated in 23 outings for Johnson City. Staten Island's Branden Pinder helped the Yankees win the New York-Penn League championship, finishing his season 2-2 with a 1.16 ERA and 14 saves in 24 outings.